Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 19, 2025

Therapeutic Effectiveness of a Dietary Supplement for Management of Halitosis in Dogs
Published on: July 6, 2015
"Oral Nutritional Supplements: Sugar Content and Potential Dental Implications"
Niamh Coffey1, Fiona O' Leary1, Francis Burke1
1¹Department of Restorative Dentistry, Cork University Dental School and Hospital, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Oral Nutritional Supplements (ONS) commonly prescribed in the UK and Ireland contain high sugar levels, increasing dental caries risk. Dental professionals should inquire about ONS use and advise on preventive measures.
Area of Science:
- Oral health
- Nutritional science
- Public health
Background:
- Older patients often benefit from Oral Nutritional Supplements (ONS).
- Dental implications of ONS are frequently overlooked by prescribers.
- Patients may not disclose ONS use to dental practitioners.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify common Oral Nutritional Supplements in the UK and Ireland and their sugar content.
- To inform the dental profession about ONS uses and potential dental risks.
- To provide recommendations for dental practitioners regarding ONS.
Main Methods:
- Compilation of a list of commonly prescribed ONS in the UK and Ireland.
- Extraction of nutritional information, specifically sugar content, from manufacturers' websites.
- Analysis of potential dental implications and formulation of recommendations.
Main Results:
- Pre-formed ONS contain 6.6–27.2 g sugar per serving.
- Powdered ONS mixed with milk contain 16.4–35.0 g sugar per serving.
- "Shot"-type ONS have lower sugar content, ranging from 0.0–4.0 g per serving.
Conclusions:
- Frequently prescribed ONS can have high sugar content, posing a risk for dental caries.
- ONS are beneficial for maintaining Body Mass Index (BMI) but necessitate increased caries prevention.
- Dental professionals must proactively inquire about ONS during patient history taking, especially in at-risk groups.
More Related Videos
08:20Systematic Approach to Identify Novel Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Molecules from Plants' Extracts and Fractions to Prevent Dental Caries
Published on: March 31, 2021
08:12Micro-dissection of Enamel Organ from Mandibular Incisor of Rats Exposed to Environmental Toxicants
Published on: March 29, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Teeth
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin...
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: α-Glucosidase Inhibitors
Acarbose and miglitol are...
Oral Cavity
Teeth: The teeth are the hardest structures in our bodies. Humans have two sets of teeth throughout their lifetime: deciduous (baby) teeth and permanent teeth. Each tooth consists of several parts: the crown (visible part), the root (embedded in the jaw), enamel (hard outer...
Sugars as Energy Storage Molecules
Minerals
Major...
Essential Minerals for Bone Health
Calcium and Phosphorus
Calcium is a critical component of bones, especially in the form of calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate. Since the body cannot make calcium, it must be obtained from the diet. However, calcium cannot be absorbed from the small intestine without...